Field check forming machine



A g- 19 52 c. F.RHYNO ET AL 2,605,

FIELD CHECK FORMING MACHINE I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Nov. l0. 1948 C. F.RHYNO ET AL FIELD CHECK FORMING MACHINE Aug. 5, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2Filed Nov. 10. 1948 n v Q? o mbb w RR A 5 FL am M 1 WE m M v J 1 f HHI IH Hh v n E N 5 i: m 1 H H H H HHMIIIIIHUHHHHIH Patented Aug. 5, 1952wire STATES PATENT OFFICE FIELl) CHECK FORMING MACHINE Charles F. Rhynoand Marion L. Rhyno,

Modesto, Calif.

Application November 10, 1948, Serial No. 59,314

This invention relates in general to a'machine for earth workingpurposes; the invention being directed in particular to, and it is anobject to provide, a check forming machine of novel contruction andoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a check forming machinewhich is tractor mounted, and operative-upon advance of the tractor-tosmoothly and evenly sweep earth in opposite lateral directions towindrow said earth in relatively widely spaced relation as parallelfield checks; the ground between said checks being worked by the machineto a predetermined level for use as a seed bed.

A further object of; the invention is to provide a check forming machinewhich includes a longitudinal, wide, V blade assembly frame supportedfor travel with the apex foremost; there being a novel frame or mountfor securing said blade assembly in connection with a tractor forpushing by the latter.

An additional object contemplates the provision of a novel adjusting orleveling arrangement for the blade assembly; the latter includingelongated, forwardly converging blades which are mounted for individualpower adjustment up or down,'selectively, about a swivel pointadjacenttheir forward ends.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a check forming machinewhich is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, and long life,with a minimum ofservicing or maintenance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliablecheck forming machine, and one which will be exceedingly effective forthe purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the check forming machine as in use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the same.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the swivel connection forthe forward ends of the elongated blades.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of referenceon thedrawings, the novel check forming machine comprises a generallyhorizontally disposed, U-shaped yoke or push frame I adapted to straddlea track type tractor, indicated generally at 2, from the front; the rearends of said push frame I being journaled 1 Claims. (01. sv 171) inconnection with trunnion 3 which project laterally outwardly from thetrack frames of said tractor. The push frame I is thus mounted inconnection with the tractor for relative vertical adjustment. At thefront, and centrally of the sides thereof, thepush frame I is fittedwith a longitudinaL forwardly projecting push beam 4, and diagonalbraces 5 extend forwardly in converging relation .from the front cornersof the push frame to connectionwith the push beam l adjacent but short,of its front end.

The above described frame assembly, including push frame I and push beam4, is vertically adjustable with relation to the tractor by means of ablock and tackle cable system 6 which extends at a forward and downwardincline from the front of an upstanding A-frame I on the tractor, to thetop of a unitary tripod 8 on said frame assembly ahead ofthe tractor;saidblock and tacklecable system 6 including a pull reach 9 which leadsrearwardly to the back of the tractor, whence it is connected to aconventional power control unit P. With this arrangement the frameassembly 'can be raised or lowered, at the selection of the operator,about trunnions 3 as an axis. V

At the front end thereof the check forming machine is supported by arelatively wide, transverse axis roller l0 journaled in a fork II whichis fixedin connection with a longitudinal mounting beam I2 which extendsrearwardly in overhanging relation to the front end portion of the pushbeam 4. At its rear end the longitudinal mounting beam I2 is pivotallyconnected, as at l3, to said push beam 4, and ahead of the pivot [3there is a vertical adjustment bracket M by means of which thelongitudinal mounting beam I2 can be set to position the front end ofthe push beam! at a predetermined working height above the ground.

The earth working elements of the machine comprise a pair of extremelyelongated, longitudinal blades l 5 which extend from adjacent the frontend of the push beam 4 in rearwardly diverging relation on oppositesides of the tractor 2 and the frame assembly as mounted thereon. Theblades I5 are disposed vertically edgewise and are formed on the face towork the earth laterally outwardly upon advance of the machine.

The blades l 5. are mounted in connection with the frame assembly,comprised of push frame I and push beam 4, by a plurality of lateralstays I6 which extend between a longitudinal stiffening bar I! on theback of each blade, and a corresponding point on the tractor-mountedframe assembly. The stays l6 are spaced apart lengthwise of the machine,and at their outer ends are connected by vertical pivots It to thecorresponding bar l1, and at their inner ends are connected byhorizontal pivots [9 to the tractor-mounted frame assembly.

.Adjacent their forward ends the blades l are swivelly connected to thefront end of the push beam 4 by laterally inwardly projecting ears 26],through which a, forwardly projecting trunnion 2i on said push beamprojects in relatively looseplay relation.

As so mounted the blades are each capable of up or down adjustment abouttheir forward end portions as an axis; such adjustment beingaccomplished as follows:

At the rear end thereof the U-shaped push frame I includes, in unitaryrelation, an upstanding inverted U-shaped arch frame 22, and diagonalbraces 23 maintain said frame 22 rigid with respect to the remainderofthe tractor mounted frame assembly.

Upstanding triangular frames 2.4 extend laterally from opposite sides ofthe arch frame 22, and said triangular frames '24 are connected, attheir'lower innerends, by double swivels 25 to the lower end of thecorresp'onding leg 26 of the arch frame 22. At their outer ends thetriangular frames 24 are pivotally linked, as .at 27, to the bar I! ofthe adjacentblade 15'.

A double acting, fluid pressure actuated. power cylinder 28 is connectedby .a double swivel 28 to the arch'frame 22 on each side adjacent thetop, and thence extends laterally outwardly to pivotal connection,-asat3B,, with the apex of the corresponding upstanding triangular frame 24.The power cylinders 28. are independently operative at the selection ofthe operator of the tractor, being controlled by a valved fluid pressuresystem, indicated diagrammatically and in part at 31 The rear endportions 32 of the blades [5 are initially separate elements, beingattached to the remainder of the corresponding blade by detachableconnection units 33. When said rear portions 32 of the blades l5 are inuse, which is for the purpose of increasing the effective or workingWidth of the ,machine, said rear portions 32 are stabilized byrearwardly converging tie rods 34 which pivotally connect between saidportions 32, as at 35, and the rear hitch 3-6 of the tractor, as at 3-1.

The above described check forming machine is used in the followingmanner:

At the outset the tractor-mounted frame assembly, including push frame Iandpush beam t, is adjusted to predetermined working position by meansof the block and tackle cable system, and then the longitudinal mountingbeam 12 is vertically adjusted at the bracket [4 to position the roller1!! in ground engagement. Thereafter,

with advance of the machine the roller Ill maintains the front end ofthe tractor-mounted frame assembly at a predetermined height aboveground.

The blades [5 are each adjusted to their predetermined working positionby selective operation of the power cylinders 28; contraction of eachsuch cylinder tending to raise the corresponding blade I5 for its fulllength and about its front end portion as an axis. In this manner theblades I5 initially, and during subsequent operations, can each be setto any desired working position.

As the machine advances along a field, the

symmetrically disposed blades 15 smoothly work a quantity of the earthfrom the surface of the field and sweep such earth laterally outwardlyuntil it discharges from the rear ends of the blades l5 as a check. Themachine is thus operative to form transversely spaced, parallel checkssimultaneously, while smoothing the field between such checks for use asa seed bed.

. For turning at the end of a field, the power cylinders 28 are firstcontracted, swinging the blades l5 some distance above ground, and thethe cable system 6 is shortened so as to swing the tractor-mounted frameassembly, together with the blades, to an elevated point, whereby thetractor may reverse its direction of travel without said blades diggingin or obstructing the operation. r

The described check forming machine provides a very practical andeffective implement for the intended purpose, and yet its structure isrelatively simple but rugged,and requires very little servicing ormaintenance.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention, as set forth herein. 7

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such -'deviations fromsuch detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from thespirit of 'the invention, as defined by the appended claims. I y

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful, and upon which Letters Patentaredesired:

1. A check forming machine comprising a push frame assembly yoke-like atthe rear end for straddling a tractor from the front and including aforwardly projecting frame portion, an elongated V -shaped earth workingblade structure including separate blades extending rearwardly from itsapex on opposite sides of the push frame assembly, means pivotallyconnecting the front ends of the blades to said forwardly projectingportion for vertical adjustment of said blades, a plurality, oflongitudinally spaced, vertically swingable transversestay barspivotally connected between the blades and thepush frame assembly, andpower meansconnected between each blade and the push frame assembly inlift relation to said blade; suchpower means comprising an upstanding,generally'triangular frame extending transversely between and pivotallyconnected to the correspondingfblade and said push frame assembly, and afluid pressure actuated power cylinder connected to the apex .of saidtriangular frame in rocking relation thereto- 2. A checkform-ingmachinecomprising a push frame assembly yoke-like at the rear end forstraddling a tractor from the front and including a forwardly projectingframe portion, an elongated V-shaped earth workingblade structureincluding separate blades extending rearwardly from its apex on oppositesides of the push frame assembly, means pivotally connecting the frontends of the blades to .said forwardly projecting portion for verticaladjustment of said blades, a plurality of longitudinally spaced,vertically swingable transverse stay bars pivotally connected betweenthe blades and the push frame assembly, an arch frame upstanding fromthe push'frame assembly adjacent its rear end an upstanding, generallytriangular frame pivotally connected at its lower ends to and extendingtransversely between the push frame assembly and each bladesubstantially in alinement with the arch frame, and a power deviceconnected between the apex of each triangular frame and the arch frameto swing the former up or down.

3. A check forming machine comprising a push frame assembly yoke-like atthe rear end for straddling a tractor from the front and including aforwardly projecting frame portion, an elongated V-shaped earth workingblade structure including separate blades extending rearwardly from itsapex on opposite sides of the push frame assembly, means pivotallyconnecting the front ends of the blades to said forwardly projectingportion for vertical adjustment of said blades, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced, vertically swingable transverse stay barspivotally connected between the blades and the push frame assembly, anarch frame upstanding from the push frame assembly adjacent its rearend, an upstanding, generally triangular frame pivotally connected atits lower ends to and extending transversely between the push frameassembly and each blade substantially in alinement with the arch frame,and a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder connected between the apexof each triangular frame and the arch frame to swing the former up ordown.

4. A check forming machine comprising a push frame assembly yoke-like atthe rear end for straddling a tractor from the front and including aforwardly projecting frame portion, an elongated V-shaped earth workingblade structure including separate blades extending rearwardly from itsapex on opposite sides of the push frame assembly, means pivotallyconnecting the front ends of the blades to said forwardly projectingportion for vertical adjustment of said blades, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced, vertically swingable transverse stay barspivotally connected between the blades and the push frame assembly, anarch frame upstanding from the push frame assembly adjacent its rearend, an upstanding, generally triangular frame pivotally connected atits lower ends to and extending transversely between the push frameassembly and each blade substantially in alinement with the arch frame,and a fluid pressure actuated power cylinder connected between the apexof each triangular frame and the arch frame to swing the former up ordown: the push frame assembly being vertically adjustable relative tothe tractor.

5; A check forming machine comprising a push frame, such push frameincluding a substantially U-shaped yoke adapted to be horizontallydisposed in straddling relation to a tractor from the front, means atthe free ends of the yoke for pivoting the same to the tractor, asubstantially inverted U-shaped arch frame adapted to arch over thetractor and having its ends secured to the free ends of the horizontalyoke,a push beam 6 connected with the closed end of the yokesubstantially midway between its ends and projecting a substantialdistance outwardly therefrom,

diagonal brace elements connected to the outer.

corners of the yoke and to said beam intermediate the ends of thelatter, a pair of scraper blades, each blade being pivoted to the outerend of the beam on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of thebeam, said blades diverging from said pivot points in V-formation one toeach side of the push beam and push frame, respectively, and intransversely spaced relation with respect thereto, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stay bars projecting laterally out from and beingpivoted to the sides of the diagonal brace elements and push frame forvertical swinging movement with respect thereto, the blades beingsupported on the outer ends of said stay bars, and means interposedbetween the arch frame and the blades and operative to swing the lattervertically with respect to the push beam and push frame.

6. A machine as in claim 5 in which said last named means includes twotriangular frames each pivoted at one lower corner to the arch frameadjacent'the lower end of one side of the frame and projecting laterallyout therefrom and being linked at its other lower corner to one of theblades, and power means operative to swing the triangular frames ontheir pivotal connections with the arch frame.

7. A machine as in claim 6 in which the power means includes twohydraulic rams each pivoted at one end to the arch frame and at theother end to the upper corner of one of the triangular frames, and meansfor admitting fluid under pressure to operate said rams.

CHARLES F. RHYNO. MARION L. RHYNO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,189,123 Keller June 27, 19161,453,811 Starkweather May 1, 1923 1,550,575 Sargent Aug. 18, 19251,561,604 Greenabaum Nov. 17, 1925 1,697,697 Spiess Jan. 1, 19291,711,488 Bising May 7, 1929 1,956,007 Davin et a1 Apr. 24, 19341,997,001 Lamb Apr. 9, 1935 2,261,874 Cundiff Nov. 4, 1941 2,299,451Austin Oct. 20, 1942 2,426,847 Smith Sept. 2, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 55.700 Denmark Jan. 16, 1939

